Electric truss-pad



(No Model.)

A. T. SHERWOOD.

ELECTRIC muss PAD.

No. 335,639. Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

"W, n L M W III the pad on the line 00 m of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and UNITE AIENI rerun,

ELECTRIC) TRUSS PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,639, dated February 9, 1886. Application filed January 17,1883. Renewed November 17, 1885. Serial No. 183,149. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW T. SHERWOOD, of the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Electric Truss-Pads; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates, first, to an elastic trusspad combined with a galvanic battery, whereby the advantages of an electric current are combined with the advantages to be derived from an elastic truss -pad as distinguished from a hard or solid pad; secondly, to the particular means employed. for connecting the poles of the battery through an elastic pad with the battery, whereby the elastic quality of the pad is not impaired or interfered with.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my inven tion, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my truss-pad. Fig. 2 is a section taken through 4 show elastic connecting-springs.

A is a pad such as is used on trusses for the treatment of hernia. This pad I make of some elastic yielding substance or material secured upon a suitable base or back plate, 13, and provide it with a membranous outer covering of animal tissue which will serve as a good conductor of electricity. I prefer to use the dried membranous covering which comes from the hearts of beeves for this purpose.

To the back plate, or within a small chamber in the back of the truss-pad, I place and secure a galvanic battery, 0, composed of one or more elements which are constructed and arranged in the ordinary manner of constructing' such galvanic pairs. If the back plate is composed of a substance which acts as a condoctor of electricity, I insulate it from the battery or pairs in any of the known ways.

In the front face of the truss-pad I place underneath the membranous covering or integument the plates of metal D,wl1ich will serve as 5 poles for the battery, and these poles or plates I connect with the battery in the back of the pad by means of flexible elastic conductors.

I prefer to use light metallic wire twisted into a spiral so as to form springs E, which pass through the elastic portion. of the pad and yield with it to any pressure that may be applied to the front of the pad, but at the same time maintain perfect electrical connections between the battery and the poles or plates on the face of the pad.

Electricity is thus applied to the rupture. At the same time the pressure applied by the pad is soft and elastic, thus allowing the electricity to be more effective, and at the same time affording the patient greater comfort and better retaining effect than if the pad were hard and solid.

The pad is provided with a loop, F, upon the back, by which to secure it to the belt, and this is done by means of along flat elastic strip of steel, G, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which is made tapering from the center toward both ends when two pads are used; but when a single pad is used the plate G may taper from one end only. This arrangement permits the pad to adjust itself to conform to the movements of the body without discomfort to the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In combination with an electric truss-pad, the galvanic battery connected with its back plate, and connected by flexible conductors with the poles or plat-es in the face of the pad, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof Ihereunto set my hand.

ANDREIV T. SHERWOOD.

W'itnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, G. W. EMERsoN. 

